MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-109-A-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-109-A-2013-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-109-A-2013-S (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE MORGAN RUN UT in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/5/2013 and again in the summer on 7/18/2013.

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Results:

An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) is a scientific tool used to identify and classify stream health. An IBI associates anthropogenic influences on a stream or with biological condition in the stream, and is formulated using data developed from biosurveys.
Details on the development and application of MBSS IBIs are in this document.
Fish IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 292 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 26.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 47.3 %
Forested Land Use 25.3 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 36 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 42 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.21
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		385.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.192 mg/L

Biological Stream Condition:

Surveys of the organisms living within a stream can give indications of stream health. Species richness, or the number of different species present, as well as indicator species (species whose presence, absence or abundance can serve as a measure of environmental conditions) are informative for stream health. 		Close-up of a mayfly indicator species.

Fish Survey Results:
The following 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 136
Blacknose Dace 114
Creek Chub 9
Rosyside Dace 8
Longnose Dace 4
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 26
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 21
Prosimulium Black Fly 13
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Neophylax Caddisfly 7
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 3
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Nemoura 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
CAPNIIDAE Small Winter Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 1
Kick net sampling for macroinvertebrates.
Sampling with a kick net.

Information disclaimer: The information and data on this page is for guidance and general planning purposes only. It should not be used to make decisions on specific matters.